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Summary of Question:	What Is Pawan Guru ?
Category:	Gurbani
Date Posted:	Friday, 3/18/2005 5:30 AM MDT

Waheguru ji ka Khalsa

Waheguru ji ki Fateh!
Its is really very nice of your service of providing a lot of information to the people regarding sikhism.Really you are following the guru's vaak"AAp japo Awra Naam Jappawo.."
I have one question in mind from last many days. Kindly help me out...
In the second shalok of Japji sahib, The first line is "Pawan guru pani pita mata dharat mahat..." I've gone thro many steeks of bani, but my doubt is still that What basically the meaning of PAwan guru. Whether this reflect as Our teacher (guru) is Air?
Thanks

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reply
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Sat nam. Great question. Pavan does translate as 'air' but perhaps we shouldn't be so literal. While I think Sikhs may interpret this bani very personally, Yogi Bhajan taught that Pavan Guru is the prana, the breath. Now, when one slows their breath and meditates with this slowed, deep breathing, a neutral, meditative mind and that state of sehej, or equipoise, is developed and honed. The Shabd Guru, if you read the Siri guru Granth Sahib, talks about the state of sehej as how you experience Guru.
This 'prana' is known individually as the breath, but collectively, it is the air, more specifically, the Life Force that imbues all living beings. This is Guru, and if you meditate on this Life Force, you meditate on Guru. Don't take my word for it! Practice it your self! Guru ang sang,
-DKK